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Environmental Strategy

2010

1 Environmental Strategy

Contents

Messages from the Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor 2

Environmental Strategy Statement 3

Environmental Strategy Delivery 4

Context 4

Structure and Resources 5

The Strategy in Operation 5

Waste and Recycling 6

Energy and Water 7

Travel and Transport 8

Procurement 9

Campus Development 10

Awareness Raising, Training and Communication 11

Corporate Governance 12

Information Services 13

Landscape 14

Teaching and Learning 15

Research 16

Contact the Sustainability Team 17

Environmental Strategy 1


Message from the Vice-Chancellor

“The global imperative to reduce carbon emissions and to improve the sustainability of our activities is compelling. The University clearly must contribute by addressing our own operations, but as a higher education institution we are also ideally placed to influence the future through the education of our students and our world-leading research. This Strategy sets out our objectives in all of these areas. It will require your involvement to deliver the outcomes we seek - I hope you will help us achieve them.”

Professor David Greenaway

Vice-Chancellor

Message from the Pro-Vice-Chancellor

“The University recognises the importance to society of Sustainable Development, and the crucial role our environmental performance (and in particular reducing carbon emissions) has to play in achieving sustainability. For that reason we have developed a University Environmental Strategy to help us improve our performance in this area. We know that there are significant environmental issues that require tackling at all levels of society, and our Strategy has identified how we can contribute to, and indeed help lead, this agenda. Delivery against this Strategy cannot be achieved top-down but will require contributions from the whole University community. I encourage all staff, students and other stakeholders to join us in helping to achieve the objectives set out.”

Professor Alan Dodson

Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Environment, Infrastructure and Information Services

Environmental Strategy2


EEnvironmental Strategy Statement

The University of Nottingham has a long standing commitment to the environmental agenda and is committed to institution wide environmental excellence. We have significant internationally recognised research strengths and course provision in the environment related field. Our estates operations are built upon a strong environmental ethos and through our adoption of progressive environmental strategies in our capital projects we have embedded sustainability into the heart of our operations. The University has committed itself to becoming a leading green University and will build on both our research and operational excellence to achieve this.

The University recognises that it has a range of roles and interacts with a number of stakeholders. It is an educator of future generations, many of whom will be at the cutting edge of research and captains of industry; it is a significant regional employer whose decisions have a large impact on the regional environment; it is also a part of the local community.

In pursuit of achieving environmental excellence the University of Nottingham is committed to the following aims:

To facilitate the active participation of the University community in reducing the collective environmental impact of the organisation, through both formal and informal activity; To foster a culture of environmental citizenship within the University Community.

To meet and, where appropriate, exceed all relevant UK, European and international legislative and regulatory requirements and agreements.

To engage fully with the student body to ensure the involvement of a key stakeholder in environmental improvements.

To improve the environmental performance of our buildings and the University’s physical infrastructure by moving

towards carbon neutral energy performance, adopting environmentally conscious procurement practice, promoting renewable energy systems, reducing water consumption and waste output.

To systematically reduce resource consumption and progress to zero waste through best practice environmental

management and cultural change.

To ensure that all development and refurbishments go beyond current legislation and utilise environmental best practice where practicable, whilst seeking best value for the University at all times.

To actively promote and market the University, internally and externally, as a leading ‘Green University’; to facilitate

dissemination of best practice and ensure that the University gets the recognition it deserves for its endeavours.

To act in an environmentally responsible way.

To continue the University’s contribution to advancing the environmental agenda within both the region and the Higher Education sector.

To integrate environmental responsibility into University and School strategies, plans and policies as they are written or

revised. To sustain and build upon the University’s profile in environmental research contributing to the global enhancement of

the environmental knowledge base for future generations.

To actively promote and encourage the use of sustainable modes of transport across the University, acknowledging business needs, the University’s research led focus and its internationalisation agenda.

To promote and encourage the use of technology to reduce the environmental impact of university operations and activities.

To engage with the University’s suppliers and contractors to ensure that goods and services procured meet the

University’s environmental standards and, in turn, that they demonstrate and progressively improve their own environmental performance.

To support continuous environmental improvement by establishing challenging and measurable performance targets

that are reviewed and reported annually.

To develop, operate and maintain IT services and facilities in a sustainable manner, meeting and where practicable exceeding industry standards, seeking best value for the University at all times.


nvironmental Strategy Statement

The University of Nottingham has a long standing commitment to the environmental agenda and is committed to institution wide environmental excellence. We have significant internationally recognised research strengths and course provision in the environment related field. Our estates operations are built upon a strong environmental ethos and through our adoption of progressive environmental strategies in our capital projects we have embedded sustainability into the heart of our operations. The University has committed itself to becoming a leading green University and will build on both our research and operational excellence to achieve this.

The University recognises that it has a range of roles and interacts with a number of stakeholders. It is an educator of future generations, many of whom will be at the cutting edge of research and captains of industry; it is a significant regional employer whose decisions have a large impact on the regional environment; it is also a part of the local community.

In pursuit of achieving environmental excellence the University of Nottingham is committed to the following aims:

To facilitate the active participation of the University community in reducing the collective environmental impact of the organisation, through both formal and informal activity; To foster a culture of environmental citizenship within the University Community.

To meet and, where appropriate, exceed all relevant UK, European and international legislative and regulatory requirements and agreements.

To engage fully with the student body to ensure the involvement of a key stakeholder in environmental improvements.

To improve the environmental performance of our buildings and the University’s physical infrastructure by moving

towards carbon neutral energy performance, adopting environmentally conscious procurement practice, promoting renewable energy systems, reducing water consumption and waste output.

To systematically reduce resource consumption and progress to zero waste through best practice environmental

management and cultural change.

To ensure that all development and refurbishments go beyond current legislation and utilise environmental best practice where practicable, whilst seeking best value for the University at all times.

To actively promote and market the University, internally and externally, as a leading ‘Green University’; to facilitate

dissemination of best practice and ensure that the University gets the recognition it deserves for its endeavours.

To act in an environmentally responsible way.

To continue the University’s contribution to advancing the environmental agenda within both the region and the Higher Education sector.

To integrate environmental responsibility into University and School strategies, plans and policies as they are written or

revised. To sustain and build upon the University’s profile in environmental research contributing to the global enhancement of

the environmental knowledge base for future generations.

To actively promote and encourage the use of sustainable modes of transport across the University, acknowledging business needs, the University’s research led focus and its internationalisation agenda.

To promote and encourage the use of technology to reduce the environmental impact of university operations and activities.

To engage with the University’s suppliers and contractors to ensure that goods and services procured meet the

University’s environmental standards and, in turn, that they demonstrate and progressively improve their own environmental performance.

To support continuous environmental improvement by establishing challenging and measurable performance targets

that are reviewed and reported annually.

To develop, operate and maintain IT services and facilities in a sustainable manner, meeting and where practicable exceeding industry standards, seeking best value for the University at all times.

Professor Alan Dodson Pro-Vice-Chancellor 1st February 2010

3Environmental Strategy


Environment Strategy Delivery

Context

population in excess of 37,000.

n udent market,

g and research and

ustainability – through the skills and knowledge

duction strategy for higher education. It links

manag p the transition towards a

enhouse

Key aspe ts in HEFCE’s strategy include:

carbon reduction culture and act to help the sector play its part in meeting national climate

g approach to delivering carbon reductions via institutions’

icity purchases (scope 1 and 2) by 34 per cent by 2020

Adapting the Capital Investment Framework to establish a link between performance against carbon plans – in effect, carbon reduction – and future capital allocations.

Setting milestones to measure progress against the sector-level targets.

The strategy aims to focus efforts in areas that offer the greatest potential carbon reduction return, such as: energy use within the estate; transport; water consumption; waste; and procurement, through technical, structural and behavioural solutions. It also aims to identify issues that

Over the past twenty years the University of Nottingham has developed significantly and is now established as one of the world’s leading research and teaching institutions. Today we have five main UK based campuses, as well as campuses in Malaysia and Ningbo, China, and have a staff of over 7,400 and a student

need further consideration and support.

As a major regional employer we recognise that our decisions and actions have an impact upon the environmental, economic and social aspects of the region. Increasingly the student body, staff and local community are expecting the University to be a leading advocate of the environmental agenda in its teaching, learning, research, decision making and operations.

In an i creasingly competitive stenvironmental performance is likely to become an important element of student choice. We influence our tudents through our curriculum, teachins

also by the environs, the campus experience and through e leadership of the University. th

The sector as a whole is embracing the environmental agenda, indeed as early as 2005 HEFCE set out a vision

at: ‘Within the next 10 years, the higher education sector thin this country will be recognised as a major contributor to society’s efforts to achieve sthat its graduates learn and put into practice, and through its own strategies and operations.’

ottingham has made progress in recent years Nand this document outlines some key objectives to assist the University to achieve its vision to ecome ‘a leading green university’, in its b

teaching, learning, research, campus operations nd governance. a

In January 2010 HEFCE published its carbon reto requirements in the UK’s Climate Change Act 2008, which aims to improve carbon

ement and hellow-carbon economy in the UK. It sets the world’s first legally binding reduction targets for gre gas emissions of at least 34 per cent by 2020 and at least 80 per cent by 2050, against a 1990 baseline.

c

Creating a

change targets.

Establishing a more demandin

carbon plans. Targets for the sector are to reduce direct emissions and those caused by electr

and 80 per cent by 2050 (both against a 1990 baseline).



Structure and Resources

Whilst all staff personal respo

and students of the University should take nsibility for the environmental impact of their

actions, formal responsibility within the University is

he es a year),

the University.

ndations to

d monitor the University’s Environmental Strategy.

es Representative External Relations Group Representative

rk

Keith Pitcher, Director of Sustainability Gavin Scott, Environmental Manager Tim Rudge, Energy Manager Emma Kemp, Senior Environment Officer Andrew Bryers, Assistant Environment/Energy Manager Jason Yarnall, BMS Controls Engineer Desmond O’Grady, Grounds Manager Martin Lloyd, Grounds Maintenance Manager David Parkhouse, Assistant Grounds Maintenance Manager (Contact information is available on page 17). Environmental Champions are a group of enthusiastic staff, and Eco-Warriors committed students, who help improve the environmental performance of the University by raising awareness of environmental issues within their School, support service (or Hall of Residence). They promote environmental initiatives and run awareness campaigns on topics such as reducing waste, using energy and water efficiently, sustainable travel and sustainable purchasing. This scheme is part of a strategy to create a strong culture of environmental awareness across the University. All Environmental Champions and Eco-Warriors are part of a network that is coordinated and supported by the University's Sustainability team within the Estate Office.

The Strategy in Operation

The following sections outline some of the key operational areas this strategy covers, with information as to why these are important issues, the strategic aim(s) that they are relevant to and some specific operational objectives and key performance indicators.

structured thus:

A Pro-Vice-Chancellor has responsibility for the Environment within their portfolio, reporting directly to Management Board, and thereby to Senate and Council as appropriate.

The Environment Committee, which is chaired by tPVC for Environment (and which meets three timreports to Management Board. Its current terms of reference are:

To advise Management Board on environmental related matters affecting

To monitor, review and make recommeminimise / reduce where practicable the environmental impact of the University's operations, policies and procedures.

To develop, implement an

Current membership is:

Pro-Vice-Chancellor Environment (Chair) Chief Estates and Facilities Officer Director of Sustainability Environmental Manager (secretariat) Energy Management Engineer Safety Office Representative Students’ Union Representative Member of University Council Campus Representatives Information Services Representative Commercial Servic

The Sustainability Team, based in the Estate Office, woto bring about the practicable improvements in sustainability and environmental awareness and performance at the University. They are:



Waste and Recycling

The limited capacity in landfill sites is well reported and wehave seen increasing costs associated with the disposal of waste, landfill tax is increasing year on year. Several pieces of legislation in re

cent years have meant that there are increasing numbers of items that have to be disposed of via

ur staff and students expect to be able to recycle at their place of work or study, and currently we

es over 3,000 tonnes of waste per year which costs in excess of £300,000 per year in disposal.

004/05 to 29% i 09, with a target of 40% set for 2011/12.

specialist contractors and not via landfill. Recycling in the home environment is very much the norm, as such both o

offer facilities to be able to recycle a number of waste streams. The University produc

Over the last few years we have seen significant improvements in our recycling rates, from 4% in 2

n 2008/

Strategic Aim: To improve the environmental performance of our buildings and the University’s physical infrastructure by moving towards

carbon neutral energy performance, adopting environmentally conscious procurement practice, promoting renewable energy systems, reducing water consumption and waste output

To systematically reduce resource consumption and progress to zero waste through best practice environmental management and cultural change

To act in an environmentally responsible way

To continue the University’s contribution to advancing the environmental agenda within both the region and the Higher

Education sector Objectives: To minimise and actively manage waste through elimination, reduction, reuse and recycling

To promote management systems which reduce the production of potential waste materials

To encourage the use of ‘recycled’ products where appropriate

To promote purchasing and development processes that give due consideration to the true cost of waste

Review all waste streams and work to minimise waste generation, maximise recycling and minimise unnecessary

consumption Work with our building contractors to minimise the amount of c

Key Performance Indicators: Waste mass generated per m2

Recycled waste proportion %

onstruction waste sent to landfill



ty and 250% in gas prices since ugust 2007. As such we have seen

save schemes over recent years. Projects are financed from our Carbon Plan programme. This has secured external funding from Salix and savings made are recycled back into the programme to finance future projects. Our flexible approach to energy procurement has ensured that we procure our energy in the most effective way. We have seen year-on-year energy reduction against a backdrop of increasing student

umbers, a growing estate and increasingly energy intensive research.

Mindful of the environmental impact of the use of energy we have been actively working to raise the awareness of energy use and have made inroads in reducing energy waste. To reduce our overall environmental impact we actively seek to procure green energy, and as a result we have seen reductions in our energy related CO2 in recent years.

Whilst water prices have not risen to the same extent as energy, we now pay over £1 million a year for water. Many opportunities for savings have been introduced, including urinal controls – Cistermisers, leakage detection work and grey water harvesting, as well as reviewing whether sites have been charged correctly for clean water, used water and surface water drainage.

Looking forward as the University expands, both in terms of capital, students and research intensity, we will see increasing energy and water demands, and it is vital that the environmental impact of these activities is considered at all opportunities.

We will continue to manage and develop our Carbon Plan to nsure it delivers performance improvements against set

targets.

nEnergy and Water

In recent years there have been frequent sensational headlines regarding world fossil fuel energy reserves, climate change and energy price increases. Over a relatively short period, public awareness and interest has been stimulated on an unprecedented scale.

The University has not been immune to these market issues, experiencing the most volatile price fluctuations in energy costs ever, with increases of 200% in oil, 225% in electriciAsignificant increases in our annual energy and water spend and in financial year 2008/09 this spend was £12.5 million.

We have invested in a number of invest-to-

e

Strategic Aim: To improve the environmental performance of our buildings and the University’s physical infrastructure by moving towards


To ensure that all development and refurbishments go beyond current legislation and utilise environmental best practice where practicable, whilst seeking best value for the University at all times

nvironmentally responsible way

Ob

ste

ependence on carbon with a shift towards carbon neutral or low carbon energy sources

t process

IA

bon reduction achieved

icity

To act in an e To continue the University’s contribution to advancing the environmental agenda within both the region and the Higher

Education sector

j ctives: e Reduce energy consumption whilst at the same time ensuring the University’s activities continue

Raise the awareness of the cost of energy

Reduce the overall cost of energy

Reduce energy wa

Reduce d

nsure that energy consumption and low carbon energy are considerations in the procuremenE

Reduce water costs and consumption

Minimise pollution

eK y Performance Indicators:

Energy consumption per m2 GIA (Gross Internal Area)

Energy Emissions per m2 GIA

Water Consumption per m2 G

Total emissions for energy – car

Percentage of renewable electr



Travel and Transport

taff uses

nificant erations, both in

international business

across our UK

g spaces. We currently charge

er of chemes / projects.

nsport e have established the award winning No 34 UniLink

service, and more recently the No 31 service, which provide n University Park and Jubilee Campus

vely and the City Centre.

meas res, including a tax free cycle purchase scheme,

formation available on our website (e.g., a cycle parking

events. Across ocycle parking spFTE staff/studen Group of Univer

The University icycling partnersbased at the University. The overall aim of this project is to increase levels o

f ngham.

overseas air tra

Business travel is a significant contributor to our overall travel footprint, and the revision of the business travel policy has made a step towards reducing the environmental

ravel ctical.’

With a geographical spread across the local region, a sand student community in excess of 40,000, and campin China and Malaysia, travel and transport are a sigenvironmental aspect of University opterms of commuting and local andtravel.

Car parking is a highly emotive issue andcampuses we have in excess of 4,000 parkinare one of the few Universities that do notstaff or students to park. Our parking policy excludes most students from parking on our campuses, with a concessionary permit provision when appropriate.

For a number of years the University has had travel plans in place which is beneficial as part of the planning and development process. To support our travel planning initiatives we run a numbs We are one of the few Universities that operate a free inter-campus shuttle bus service for both staff and students. Through strong partnership with Nottingham City Traw

infacilities map); running a series of promotional / advisory

ur campuses we have more than 3,000 aces, which gives amongst the best (4th) t to cycle hoop ratio within the Russellsities.

s a major partner in a £3 million, 2 year hip project with the main project office

f cycling amongst staff and students and increase awareness of the benefits of cycling amongst students and staff.

On the horizon is a tram routeserving University Park and the introduction of the workplace parking levy within the City oNotti

Our internationalisation agenda will ensure that our two overseas campuses are part ofcore University activity. This will necessitate a degree of

vel. Our wider international collaborative links (research, U21 etc) also often necessitate considerable travel requirements.

direct links betweerespecti

We continue to invest in facilities for cyclists. As well as physical measures we have introduced a number of soft

impact of travel, with one of its underlying objectives to be: ‘To enable the University to work towards reducing the carbon footprint or environmental impact of business twhere pra

uwhich has had in excess of 200 people join; improved

Strategic Aim: To actively promote and encourage the use of sustainable modes of transport across the University, acknowledging

eeds, the University’s research led focus and its internationalisation agenda

l impact of the nship within the

sible way

ity’s contribution to advancing the environmental agenda within both the region and the Higher

omote alternative and non travel options and reduce associated emissions

t of intercampus travel undertaken by car e.g. between Jubilee campus and University Park

t or environmental impact of business travel where practical

l

ingle occupancy car use / alternative travel

business n

To facilitate the active participation of the University community in reducing the collective environmentaorganisation, through both formal and informal activity; To foster a culture of environmental citizeUniversity Community

To act in an environmentally respon

To continue the Univers

Education sector Objectives: To increase transport choice

To reduce single occupancy car use, pr Minimise the amoun

To reduce the carbon footprin

To reduce the amount of domestic flights where practica

Key Performance Indicators: Staff and student modal split – s

Number of staff taking part in Cyclescheme

Bus patronage on hopper services



Procurement

The University of Nottingham is committed to sustainable procurement. Purchasing decisions have major socio-economic and environmental implications, both locally, nationally and globally, now and for generations to comThe University aims to ensure that its activities meet the diverse

e.

needs of students, the economy and society.

The University has developed a Sustainable Procurement Policy that links to the wider Corporate Social ResponsibilityAgenda and the objectives below are an integral part of that wider policy.

Strategic Aim:

To act in a sustainable environmentally responsible way

To continue the University’s contribution to advancinEducation sector

g the enviro

ctors to ensin turn, tha

Objectives:

Specify sustainable environmentally friendly products wherever appropriate

Ensure where appropriate sustainable environmental criteria are used in the award of contracts

lternatives. Typically;

- Operating costs including energy, water usage and maintenance

- End of life costs including decommissioning and disposal

ers’ sustainable environmental credentials are as far as practicable considered in the suppliers’ appraisal process

Promote where appropriate and practical sustainable buying principles e.g. Fairtrade

ork with key suppliers to bring about changes and spread sustainability improvements throughout the supply

.g. Forestry Stewardship Council or EU Ecolabel

chieve environmental credentials such as environmental systems for ISO14001 or EMAS (Eco-

ustainable Procurement Flexible Framework

nmental agenda within both the region and the Higher

ure that goods and services are sustainably procured and t they demonstrate and progressively improve their own

To engage with the University’s suppliers and contrameet the University’s environmental standards and, sustainable environmental performance

Ensure consideration is given to the whole life costs and benefits of environmentally preferable products and services

a

- Manufacture, delivery, installation

Ensure that suppli

Wchain; these will include:

- Avoiding products with particularly harmful substances

- Favouring economical products with recycled content or that are biodegradable

- Buying products using recognised labelling schemes e

- Encourage suppliers to aManagement Audit Scheme)

Key Performance Indicators:

Progression on the Government’s S



Campus Development

The design, construction, operation, refurbishment and demolition of buildings can have a significant environmental

impact. Well designed and operated buildings can contribute

to and enhance the teaching and learning environment as well as

improve environmental performance.

Over the last decade the

University has invested in extensive capital development

which has seen the creation and subsequent expansion of the

award-winning Jubilee Campus. Built on a former industrial site

this campus incorporates numerous sustainable

technologies, including 450 m2 of photovoltaic cells, green roofs, a

complex system of daylight reflection, intelligent lighting systems and materials from sustainable sources to name

but a few.

Our capital developments continue to adopt progressive environmental strategies, the design of the Jubilee Campus

expansion incorporates passive design, high thermal massing and utilises geothermal lake-source heat pumps,

resulting in significant carbon savings over and above the

requirements of legislation. The Nottingham Geospatial Building (including the GRACE development), further builds

upon this and the environmental strategy adopted ensures that as a minimum the development meets Building

Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method 2006 (BREEAM) “Very Good” rating (the development

actually achieved an “Excellent” rating) and includes a biomass boiler that meets the requirement for 10% on-site

renewable energy generation. Both of these approaches result in further CO2 savings.

Many of our other capital projects similarly adopt

environmentally responsible design including the use of rain water harvesting, biomass boilers, passive design and

sustainable urban drainage systems, all of which contribute to a reduced environmental footprint.

Increasingly the planning framework and building regulations are moving towards more environmentally

responsible development, and the University is expected to display publicly how energy efficient some of its buildings

are.

As well as environmentally responsible capital projects, it

is imperative that our refurbishment works adopt

the same levels of environmental responsibility.

Within the sector we are

seeing increasing pressure to ensure that capital projects

meet stringent environmental guidelines over and above

planning guidelines. As a result BREEAM-HE has been

developed specifically for the sector as a way of

benchmarking development.

Strategic Aim:

• To improve the environmental performance of our buildings and the University’s physical infrastructure by moving towards


• To systematically reduce resource consumption and progress to zero waste through best practice environmental

management and cultural change

• To ensure that all development and refurbishments go beyond current legislation and utilise environmental best practice where practicable, whilst seeking best value for the University at all times

Objectives:

• Environmental targets will be included in the design, construction and occupation of new buildings and refurbishments

• Opportunities to improve environmental performance to be sought as part of the regular maintenance schedules and

refurbishments of buildings

• Where appropriate all buildings to be designed and constructed to a standard equivalent to BREEAM HE “Excellent” as a

minimum


• Building Display Energy Certificates / Energy Performance Certificates achieved

• Awards for sustainable construction / design



Awareness Raising, Training &

Communication

Awareness and effective communication are key to the

success of any environmental initiative. In recent years we have carried out a number of activities to increase

awareness, both with the student body and staff. There are a number of channels of communication already

established.

The establishment of an Environmental Champions

Network, which aims to bring together people from a broad spectrum of Schools and Central Support Services to share

ideas and act as champions within their own work areas to reduce environmental impacts, has improved our

communication network.

As well as our internal audiences, there are significant external audiences that we are accountable to, in a variety

of ways including, the local community, funders (e.g. HEFCE), local authorities and potential students.

Within the Students’ Union there is an executive position

that oversees environmental and social justice issues, and this has provided an excellent link with the student body.

Also, Nottingham has a number of student societies with strong environmental interest including the People & Planet

Group.

As well as raising the awareness of operational environmental performance it is imperative that work

continues to raise the profile of the cutting edge environmental research carried out at Nottingham.

Strategic Aim:

• To facilitate the active participation of the University community in reducing the collective environmental impact of the organisation, through both formal and informal activity; To foster a culture of environmental citizenship within the

University Community

• To engage fully with the student body to ensure the involvement of a key stakeholder in environmental improvements

• To actively promote and market the University, internally and externally, as a leading ‘Green University’; to facilitate dissemination of best practice and ensure that the University gets the recognition it deserves for its endeavours

• To act in an environmentally responsible way

• To continue the University’s contribution to advancing the environmental agenda within both the region and the Higher Education sector

Objectives:

• To raise awareness of sustainability issues and to communicate environmental achievements to all stakeholders, both

internal and external

• To train staff, students and others such as contractors to ensure awareness of environmental issues and how they relate to their own personal circumstance

• Foster a culture of responsible citizenship with all staff and students

Strategic Aim:

• To facilitate the active participation of the University community in reducing the collective environmental impact of the organisation, through both formal and informal activity; To foster a culture of environmental citizenship within the

University Community

• To engage fully with the student body to ensure the involvement of a key stakeholder in environmental improvements

• To actively promote and market the University, internally and externally, as a leading ‘Green University’; to facilitate dissemination of best practice and ensure that the University gets the recognition it deserves for its endeavours


• To continue the University’s contribution to advancing the environmental agenda within both the region and the Higher Education sector

Objectives:

• To raise awareness of sustainability issues and to communicate environmental achievements to all stakeholders, both

internal and external

• To train staff, students and others such as contractors to ensure awareness of environmental issues and how they relate to their own personal circumstance

• Foster a culture of responsible citizenship with all staff and students


Awareness Raising, Training and Communication


Corporate Governance

For an organisation to show that it is truly committed to improving its environmental performance, it must ensure

that the environment is fully considered within its operation and decision making processes.

The University has clearly demonstrated its commitment to

the environmental agenda through its capital investments, a formal Environment Committee, a ring fenced

environment fund and the establishment of a separate PVC portfolio for environment. Within the University Plan there is

clear commitment to ‘Increase our efforts to protect the environment and ensure those efforts get the recognition

they deserve’.

As part of the East Midlands Universities Association

(EMUA), the University completed Business in the Community’s (BITC) Environmental Index in 2008 and the

wider ‘Universities that Count’ – BITC Environmental Index in 2009. The University is a corporate member of BITC.

One of our greatest challenges will be to ensure that

environment is embedded within our policies and strategies. As we do further work on the environmental agenda, it will

be appropriate to ensure that it is clearly within our mission and values. The development of an Environmental

Management System will provide the framework for ensuring our operations and activities are assessed, targets

set, progress monitored and continual improvements achieved.

Strategic Aim:

• To support continuous environmental improvement by establishing challenging and measurable performance targets that are reviewed and reported annually


• To continue the University’s contribution to advancing the environmental agenda within both the region and the Higher

Education sector

• To integrate environmental responsibility into University and School strategies, plans and policies as they are written or revised

Objectives:

• University planning cycle to give due consideration to environmental agenda

• University to adopt where practical the principles of Business in the Community

• To work towards integrating sustainability into all strategies, plans and policies as they come up for renewal


• Rating in BITC Environmental Index and Universities that Count assessments



Information Services

Information Services provides and supports the IT infrastructure for the University. The ongoing and increasing demand for complex systems and services has a significant impact on the environment, in terms of energy consumption and sustainability. We are committed to

lities, and is starting to embed sustainable

practice into normal operations, but more can be done in the short, medium and long term to green the provision of IT services and facilities. Technologies which facilitate collaboration and communication and therefore reduce the need for University members to travel will be deployed wherever appropriate.

minimising this impact wherever practical, working in partnership with Faculties, the Students’ Union and Central Support Services to improve performance in a sustainable way.

Information Services has already implemented some energy saving measures, in the data centres and in provision of services and faci

Strategic Aim: To ensure that all development and refurbishments go beyond current legislation and utilise environmental best practice

where practicable, whilst seeking best value for the University at all times

To promote and encourage the use of technology to reduce the environmental impact of university operations and activities

To develop, operate and maintain IT services and facilities in a sustainable manner, meeting and where practicable

exceeding industry standards, seeking best value for the University at all times Objectives: To reduce energy consumption by encouraging and enabling improved and efficient power down of computers and other IT

equipment

e replacement frequency of IT equipment, thereby reducing resource usage and disposal costs

s in the pursuit of Green IT

best use of the University’s environmentally-efficient data centres by consolidating servers and systems in them

in and where possible improve the robust disposal procedures for IT equipment

and reduced energy consumption

or members of the University to travel

opting green practice in everyday use of IT

rooms scattered throughout campuses

To reduce th

To raise awareness of Green IT throughout the University community and offer advice and solutions for improved

performance To harness existing and developing technologie

To ensure that sustainability is a consideration in the IT procurement process

To enable proactive use of individual and group video conferencing to cut travel where appropriate

To make

To mainta

To continue and extend server virtualisation where appropriate, for resilience

To deploy communication and collaboration technologies which reduce the need f Key Performance Indicators:

Members of the University ad

Successful server-hosting service and reduction in number of inefficient server



Landscape

Nottingham has some of the most prestigious grounthe sector, documented by our numerous awards; include successive Civic Trust Green Flag Awards since 2003, the Britain in Bloom Public Park Award 2005, and Nottingham in Bloom and East Midlands in Bloom awarfor horticultural excellence, Civic Trust and British Association of Landscape Industry awards for the Millennium Garden on University Park. Our grounds are centra

ds in they

ds

l to the University experience and contribute to the overall Nottingham experience.

and enhancing to create the high quality landscape we see today. Our planting very much reflects the diversity of our student body, using both exotic and native species. Our landscape covers a variety of styles including heritage areas, courtyard gardens, display gardens, water features, sculpture, more than 3,000 trees, woodlands, wildlife and grass lands, all of which contribute to a rich diversity.

Our campuses have very many different landscapes and they are in keeping with the urban environment in which they sit. University Park is very much an old 'classic English landscape' with numerous gardens. In contrast both Jubilee Campus and Kings Meadow Campus are much newer, the former features more natural, environmentally sensitive native plantings with lakes and wildlife and the latter being an oasis for staff who

n n campus has been

rema s a small but almost

uses as well as having

lationships with other organisations to ensure they are managed effectively.

splendour and beauty. In 2004 the University established a Friends of University Park group to encourage the local

and grounds.

Our grounds are managed with a strong environmental bias including composting all horticultural waste for reuse on site, minimising the use of

e of peat for soil amelioration, reducing the need for water by

s of scrubland and felled trees for wildlife habitat, all of which

Over the last decade we have seen significant improvements in the standard of our landscape, creating

re

What makes us very different to many other Universitycampuses is the openness of our sites; many thousands of people visit our campuses each year and enjoy their

community to visit University Park and to enjoy its gardens

work there. Our SuttoBoningtothoroughly overhauled over the last decade, and the arboretum

pesticides, eliminating the us

inunknown jewel. mulching, leaving area

Our camptheir own intrinsic value are key elements of a larger network of open spaces and we have built up strong

contribute to the rich diversity we have.

Strategic Aim:

the environmental performance of our buildings and the University’s physical infrastructure by moving towards

thin both the region and the Higher

ice, including Nottinghamshire

To improve carbon neutral energy performance, adopting environmentally conscious procurement practice, reducing water consumption and waste output

To act in an environmentally responsible way To continue the University’s contribution to advancing the environmental agenda wi

Education sector Objectives:

To continue to manage our grounds with due regard to the environment

To increase the bio-diversity of our sites To foster greater partnership with other organisations to promote sustainable grounds pract

Wildlife Trust


Awards

Numbers attending events Recycling of grounds waste



d Learning

e tal

reas.

owledge and skills of the environmental agenda will contribute to society in the

As well as formal environmesignificant opportunities for oinformal education through scommunity and through volu

Increasingly many profession e their members to be aware of the understand how as professiothrough their professional ac

As well as the content of teaopportunities to enhance thethrough greater use of ICT. Tof areas including the SchooMedicine, which has for examuse of paper within its teach

Teaching an

The University has a strong portfolio within traditional environmental fields and a number of both undergraduatand postgraduate courses explicitly deal with environmenissues. Increasingly the principles of environmental responsibility and sustainability are becoming intertwined within teaching in a number of non environmental a

The University attracts the very best students, many of whom will become leaders of industry and commerce, as such equipping them with the kn

future.

ntal education there are ur students to engage in ocial activities, within the local nteering.

al bodies requirenvironmental agenda and nals they can contribute to this tivity.

ching and learning there are delivery of our teaching his has happened in a number

l of Veterinary Science and ple significantly reduced the

ing.

Strategic Aim:

tive participation of the University community in reducing the collective environmental impact of the on, through both formal and informal activity

To foster a culture of environmental citizenship within the University Community

Objectives:

Understand more fully sustainability / environment within current programmes and curriculum

active participation in non formal education with an environmental bias

evelopment of sustainability within teaching and learning

ppropriate, sustainability to be taken into account in discussions leading to course approval

environmentally relevant modules and courses

To facilitate the acorganisati

Encourage the

Encourage and support the d

Where a


The numbers of students on


Environmental Strategy 16

Research

The University is widely recognised as having a strong research portfolio looking at the fields of environment and sustainability, both in the UK and at our overseas campuses including for example, the Creative Energy Dwellings project, Energy Technologies Research Institute (and a partner in ETI), DICE, Green Chemistry, and the Centre for Sustainable Energy Technology (CSET), as well as many

rants vironmental field and this is projected to be a

growing research field.

other interdisciplinary research institutes, groups and centres.

The University has been awarded significant research gin the en

Strategic Aim:

To sustain and build upon the University’s profile in environmental research contributing to the global enhancement of tenvironmental knowledge base for future generations

he

e postgraduate research and innovation in the sustainability area

Objectives:

Encourag

Promote dissemination of research Create stronger links between campus operations and research

Make greater use of our own infrastructure for research


Research funding for environmental / energy / sustainability related research



Contact the Sustainability Team

[email protected]

Sustainability Team Estate Office University Park Nottingham NG7 2RD

t: 0115 951 3600 e: sustainabi


Keith Pitcher Director of Sustainability t: 0115 951 5669 e: [email protected] Gavin Scott Environmental Manager t: 0115 951 3572 e: [email protected]

Tim Rudge Energy Manager t: 0115 951 3583 e: [email protected] Emma Kemp Senior Environment Officer t: 0115 951 3098 e: [email protected]

Andrew Bryers Assistant Energy/Environment

er Managt: 0115 951 3568 e: [email protected]

Jason Yarnall BMS Controls Engineer t: 0115 951 3586 e: [email protected]

Desmond O’Grady Grounds Manager t: 0115 951 3649 e: [email protected] Martin Lloyd Grounds Maintenance Manager t: 0115 951 3605 e: [email protected]

David Parkhouse Assistant Grounds Maintenance Manager t: 0115 951 3637 e: [email protected]


Sustainability Team

Estate OfficeUniversity ParkNottinghamNG7 2RD

t: 0115 951 3600

e: [email protected]


environmental strategy 2010 · 2019-07-31 · environmental strategy 2 message from the...

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